Horror Stories: Rethinking Nursing School

Horror Stories: Rethinking Nursing School

In desperate need of advice. I'm currently a sophomore in nursing school at one of the top 10 universities for nursing. I thought I was extremely interested in nursing, but being in nursing school has kind of crushed that for me. My professors are extremely unprepared for all of our classes, don't even seem interested themselves, and have stated they "didn't even want" to be a professor, but there was nobody else to take that position. My university is definitely cutthroat and I can tell they are still in the weed-out process with the students.

I'm starting clinicals this week, which I'm super excited for, but one of my classes this week literally lectured us for two hours on all of their nursing horror stories and the terrible patients they've encountered. They've told us about how we should expect to have patients who are rude to us, will cuss us out, and how some may even get physically violent with us? I understand they want us to be educated on both the good and the bad parts of nursing, but suddenly I find myself questioning if this is truly the profession I want to be in. 

I'm hearing more and more stories of nurses and nursing students who have lost their passions for nursing. I guess I'm just curious as to what made you all stay in nursing and if nursing school gets any better than what I'm currently experiencing or what I can have to look forward to. As I'm sure many people can imagine, being a 20 year old in college leaves room for a lot of confusion on what I want to pursue in life.

31 Answers

Specializes in ICU.

Nursing school is temporary and yes it sucks, for a multitude of reasons. The first year of nursing also sucks, and potentially longer depending on where you’re at. It’s certainly not an easy profession and yes there are times where you encounter violent patients. 

Many nurses have exited the bedside due to the crap we put up with, but some stay because they either aren’t as negatively impacted by it or they have a “why” that they feel is more powerful than the issues. I think personally that’s where I’m at, I have seen and dealt with a lot in my short career probably mostly due to the pandemic. But I stick around where I’m at despite my feelings of burnout because there’s something I want to do in the future that requires my current participation in this unfortunate situation and I won’t let the daily issues, violent patients, butthead colleagues etc take that away from me. 

Why did you go to nursing school? I know at this early stage it’s impossible to know for sure where you’ll want to be in nursing in 5 years, but ask yourself that question and then ask whether the crap you’re hearing and dealing with is worth it. For a lot of people it isn’t, you just have to make that choice for yourself.

Specializes in NICU.
ks__102 said:

They've told us about how we should expect to have patients who are rude to us, will cuss us out, and how some may even get physically violent with us? I understand they want us to be educated on both the good and the bad parts of nursing, but suddenly I find myself questioning if this is truly the profession I want to be in. 

Nursing and working in a hospital is different from a doctors office, clinic, school, etc. Each has sections both good and not so good. Not everyone likes bedside nursing, some prefer the OR or recovery. School  is meant to be tough and you will be a better nurse for it. Teachers do come with attitudes, make the best of it, you will not regret graduating and working in an area you like. Good luck in your career.

Specializes in Customer service.
On 1/12/2022 at 8:28 AM, ks__102 said:

being a 20 year old in college leaves room for a lot of confusion on what I want to pursue in life.

You're only 20 years old. You'll have 40, 50,60, or 80+ years ahead of you. Do what makes you happy. While you earn to survive, don't forget to treat yourself, your loved ones, and friends if they're good to you. Don't waste time on people who take advantage of you. Listen to your cranky elders. LOL.  There's nothing wrong with loving yourself. You always come first to be able to care for others effectively.

Tegridy said:

Eh, unless you absolutely have to be a nurse there are plenty of other good professions out there. Personally if I ever got hit while in nursing school id milk that for everything I could and change majors. They shouldn't normalize violence. It's one of the many reasons a lot of people have dropped out of nursing..... some patients are just essentially not able to function as humans and are violent toward staff. I know if I ever got physically assaulted id take it as far as I could and get some money out of it. 

I agree, its sad but the amount of times I have been sexually assaulted at work (grabbed, touched, and abused by patients) is disgusting and sickening. Management does nothing to them, police don't do anything either because they are " mentally unfit". Yet when they see the police they automatically stop. You could always transfer to a NICU or Post partum, it's unlikely you'll be assaulted there, but I have been assaulted in postpartum once. 

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

If you decide to proceed with nursing there are still a lot of positives to the career. Job security is definitely a plus as nurses are in high demand and I don't see that changing any time soon so you shouldn't have too much trouble finding employment no matter where you go.

There's also tons of flexibility in the field. Hospital nursing isn't by any means the only option. 

That being said...Nursing is not the way I'd counsel anybody to go nowadays. If you want to stay in the health field there are many options besides nursing. Most have better hours, better treatment by management and patients and equal or often better pay.

Specializes in Geriatrics.

Looking at the flip side, many students are completely unprepared for what is to come later. And many argue with their instructors incessantly over topics they don't have the expertise or knowledge in. 

Students are concerned with grades, teachers are concerned with preparing competent nurses. 

Yes, a patient has hit me, but I've had plenty of other good experiences. Additionally, Not everyone in healthcare is nice, friendly, helpful.

Understanding that real life is very different from being in college will help create a good foundation for your career.

Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.
8 hours ago, P3G said:

Hey! Current nursing student here. I am interested in health care and have no intention of changing my route any time soon, especially after working so hard to merely get into a nursing program. However, I know that bedside nursing is not my end goal and I will most likely go to grad school at some point to advance my career, or simply switch to a different career within the field. I am curious, what are some examples of the non-nursing options that you are referring to in your post? 

Physical Therapy, the schooling for the PhD degree isn't too much longer than a BSN degree. The demand is high and the pay is better.  My son is a travel PT and makes a  mid  6 figure annual income.

Occupation Therapy, Ultrasound and X-Ray techs are also in demand with good to very good compensation for the time/cost of the degree.

Medical coding/billing can be done remotely and also has good to very good compensation for the time/cost of the degree.  My daughter-in-law chose that route because she can work remotely so it doesn't affect their travel plans. She's married to my travel PT son.

Anything in IT with a focus on health care software is also very lucrative and is a high demand field.

There's also dieticians, lab techs, pharmacy techs and if you are willing and able to devote a lot of time to college a pharmacist. The demand is beyond high with excellent compensation.

About the only non nursing medical field I can't currently endorse is social work as they are as overworked and to my admittedly little bit of knowledge as underpaid or even more so than nursing. 

With the possible exceptions of Nursing informatics and possibly medical coding/billing non of the options I thought of off the top of my head are anything you could easily transition to from nursing. They are all separate career paths with their own education requirements with little to no crossover from nursing.

There are however a LOT of non-bedside nursing careers. However most of them would require a fair amount of nursing experience to be considered a qualified candidate for the job. If you proceed with a nursing degree there are certainly other employment options you could consider in your future.

Specializes in Hospice, RN, ED.

Wow!  To some of you students, as well as some who have responded -

I loved nursing school (in a school in NJ) and have worked in hospitals, LTC centers, LTACs, Oncology, Corrections and Hospice.  There are SO many options for nurses.  I have had nasty patients.  But, they're patients.  And I remember that.  I get to go home.  They are stuck wherever they are, for the time, anyway.  Nursing is a fabulous, highly respectable career.  I have been a nurse for over 26 years and am so grateful for all I have done.  Try to take a look at the big picture before you bow out.  If you do, and still feel the need to get out, go right ahead.  Nursing is definitely NOT for everyone.  Good luck in whatever you decide!  ?

Specializes in Customer service.

I could care less if they don't want to be instructors. I watch what they do, not what they say. 

Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.

Eh, unless you absolutely have to be a nurse there are plenty of other good professions out there. Personally if I ever got hit while in nursing school id milk that for everything I could and change majors. They shouldn’t normalize violence. It’s one of the many reasons a lot of people have dropped out of nursing….. some patients are just essentially not able to function as humans and are violent toward staff. I know if I ever got physically assaulted id take it as far as I could and get some money out of it. 

Specializes in Former NP now Internal medicine PGY-3.
4 hours ago, nadenka said:

I agree, its sad but the amount of times I have been sexually assaulted at work (grabbed , touched, and openly masturbated too by patients) is disgusting and sickening. Management does nothing to them, police don't do anything either because they are " mentally unfit" . Yet when they see the police they automatically stop. You could always transfer to a NICU or Post partum, its unlikely you'll be assaulted there, but I have been assaulted in postpartum once. 

Yeah I never understood the mentally unfit part. If they are unable to function as a human being they should be in a long term psych facility. deinstitutionalization may not have been the best idea ever.

Specializes in Customer service.
14 hours ago, nadenka said:

I agree, its sad but the amount of times I have been sexually assaulted at work (grabbed , touched, and openly masturbated too by patients) is disgusting and sickening. Management does nothing to them, police don't do anything either because they are " mentally unfit" . Yet when they see the police they automatically stop. You could always transfer to a NICU or Post partum, its unlikely you'll be assaulted there, but I have been assaulted in postpartum once. 

People who don't know any better, they don't stress me out. I always treat everyone is dangerous until proven innocent. I was hit but no damaged. I didn't see it coming. 

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